Indiana Court of Appeals wheels into Manchester University for session

Manchester University hosted its third Appeals on Wheels session on Tuesday April 14. Students, faculty, and local members of the Wabash County Bar Association watched the oral hearing of Johnson v. State as the Court of Appeals panel judges questioned both attorneys about their arguments. Photo by Emma Rausch

By Emma Rausch

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Court was in session on April 14 at Manchester University when the Indiana Court of Appeals visited for the college’s third traveling oral argument hearing, or Appeals on Wheels.

Appeals on Wheels is an educational initiative which brings oral argument hearings into schools and other venues across Indiana to inform citizens about the appellate court as well as provide an opportunity to meet the judges and ask questions, according to a press release.

Students and members of the Wabash County Bar Association watched as Judges Michael Barnes and Terry Crone joined presiding Judge Paul Mathias in questioning arguments regarding the case Johnson v. State.

“I think part of our job, in addition to deciding the cases in a rational, legal, and fair way, is to allow people to see how the court works,” Barnes said. “If you heard about the Indiana Court of Appeals, did you really know how it worked?

Former USS Gen. H.W. Butner crew members (from left) John Elder and Howard Tucker listen as P.J. Smith tells a story during the group’s 41st annual reunion over the weekend. Wabash County residents Duane and Bonnie Truss hosted the event. Photo by Joseph Slacian

By Joseph Slacian

Eleven veterans, former crew members of the USS Gen. H.W. Butner, gathered in Wabash for their 41st reunion over the weekend.

While the group consisted of nine Navy veterans, a Marine veteran and an Army veteran, the men all insisted “we’re all in the Navy this weekend.”

The group had a busy weekend, touring various sites around Wabash and Miami counties on Friday, followed by a day to wander through Wabash on Saturday morning and afternoon, and a banquet Saturday night. While many of the wives and other family members took advantage of the chance to tour downtown and its offerings, the veterans opted to stay at the Charley Creek Inn, where they swapped stories and viewed thousands of photos of the Butner and past reunions.

Living Well in Wabash County’ transit program – Wabash County Transit -- is one of five agencies across the United States selected as a participant in the National Rural Transit Assistance Program’s (National RTAP) newly launched Technical Assistance Program.

The pilot program is designed to provide direct technical assistance to rural and tribal transportation programs in the areas of compliance with federal regulations and building system capacity to respond to community needs.

Wabash County Transit will receive technical assistance to identify the potential for a deviated fixed-route service.